Charith Asalanka replaces Kusal Mendis as Sri Lanka’s ODI captain

After being named the T20I captain for the series against India, the Sri Lankan selectors have decided to appoint Charith Asalanka as the side’s ODI captain as well replacing Kusal Mendis. Asalanka will start his tenure as the one-day captain with the series against Sri Lanka which is set to commence from Friday, August 2.

The same set of selectors had appointed Mendis as the ODI captain in December 2023, though he had also led Sri Lanka in several matches in last year’s World Cup in an acting capacity. Though Mendis has been good with the bat, the selectors have opted to go into a different direction.

Asalanka’s elevation to the T20I captaincy was expected following Wanindu Hasaranga’s resignation after the Lankan Lions’ disappointing run in the T20 World Cup, but a change in the ODI leadership was somewhat unexpected, largely because Mendis had not been in the position for long.

 Nevertheless, Asalanka has been one of Sri Lanka’s more consistent ODI batters, averaging 43.59 across 52 innings.

 

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